News Value Scenarios

News Value Scenarios

MS Journalism

​Instructions

​For each set of facts, decide which news value is the most important. Then, decide whether the story should be covered in the upcoming issue of Puma Prints.

​​Scenario 1

​As part of a prank, students took all of the furniture out of three classrooms over the weekend and set up each class in the parking lot. The school is attempting to figure out how the alarm was disengaged and how the classroom doors were unlocked. It is an open secret who did the prank, as the prank showed up first in several students’ Snapchat stories.​

Open Ended

What's the most important news value?

Poll

Should we cover this story?

• Yes

• No

​​Scenario 2

The closest bookstore announces that it will close. The building’s owner refuses to renew the lease for the bookstore, and community members, including several students and the school librarian, plan to protest the decision.

Open Ended

What's the most important news value?

Poll

Should we cover this story?

• Yes

• No

​​Scenario 3

A chemical spill occurs in the science wing of the school, causing minor injuries to several students and one teacher. All students are initially evacuated to Dahl Field.  The upper level of the administration building and lower commons are off limits for the rest of the day, but classes continue to meet in other areas of the school. It takes a Hazmat crew three hours to clean the spill.

Open Ended

What's the most important news value?

Poll

Should we cover this story?

• Yes

• No